Floatable connector and wiring harness tray

Abstract

An electrical connector (10) has a housing (20) with a mounting opening (34) and a mounting projection (36). An outwardly facing wall (50) of the mounting projection (36) has at least one detent (46, 51). A securing member (12) has a securing member opening (64). The securing member opening (64) has an inner surface (66) with at least one deflectable member (68) extending from the inner surface (66) into the securing member opening (64). A gap (74) is provided between the inner surface (66) of the securing member opening (64) and the outwardly facing wall (50) of the mounting projection (36). The mounting projection (36) is radially floatable within the gap (74). The at least one deflectable member (68) cooperates with the first detent (46) to hold the electrical connector assembly in a pre-stage position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to floating electrical connectors and wire harness trays. In particular, this invention relates to plug assemblies located and held within a wire harness tray. Background Technology

[0002] Some known electrical connectors are plug connectors configured to be mounted to a housing, such as the housing of an electrical and / or mechanical device. Some known plug connectors are through connectors that are mounted to the housing of an electrical device and also extend at least partially through a panel placed above the connector. Alternatively, the panel may be mounted separately from the connector to the housing of the electrical device, and the connector may not be directly coupled to the panel.

[0003] As a result, the opening in the panel may not align correctly with the portion of the connector configured to extend through the panel. For example, the gap between the panel and the connector may be uneven, with one side having a larger gap than the other. Although a compression seal can be installed at the interface between the connector and the panel, the seal will be compressed more on the side with the smaller gap compared to the side with the larger gap. Due to the different gap dimensions and the different compressive forces generated on the seal, the seal may fail, resulting in leakage on either side of the uneven gap. Returning to the example application of a connector mounted on a transmission housing, if the transmission cover is not properly aligned with the connector, a leakage path may be created, causing pressure, gas, liquid, and contaminants to unintentionally transfer into or out of the transmission cover, which could impair transmission performance.

[0004] The problem to be solved is to provide an electrical connector that is capable of floating within a predetermined area to properly align with openings and / or similar elements in a mating connector, cover, or panel. It is also advantageous to provide a floating electrical connector and wire harness holder that allows the electrical connector to be easily inserted through an opening in a cover or panel. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The above-mentioned problem is solved by providing an assembly with an electrical connector having a housing with a mounting opening and a mounting protrusion. The outward-facing wall of the mounting protrusion has at least one pawl. A retaining member has a retaining member opening. The retaining member opening has an inner surface having at least one deflectable member extending from the inner surface into the retaining member opening. A gap is provided between the inner surface of the retaining member opening and the outward-facing wall of the mounting protrusion. The mounting protrusion is capable of radially floating within the gap. At least one deflectable member cooperates with a first pawl to hold the electrical connector assembly in a ready-to-go position. Attached Figure Description

[0006] The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0007] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of an illustrative plug assembly of the present invention located on a wire harness tray, on which mounting protrusions are provided.

[0008] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A bottom perspective view of the plug assembly.

[0009] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A bottom perspective view of the wire harness tray.

[0010] Figure 4 This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the cover located on the plug assembly and wiring harness, with the cover shown in its initial position.

[0011] Figure 5 It is along Figure 4 The enlarged cross-sectional view taken from line 5-5.

[0012] Figure 6 This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the cover located on the plug assembly and wiring harness, with the cover shown in a fully fixed position.

[0013] Figure 7 It is along Figure 6 Enlarged cross-sectional view taken from line 7-7.

[0014] Figure 8 This is a bottom perspective view of the alternative illustrative plug assembly.

[0015] Figure 9 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the mounting portion of the cover located on the plug assembly and wiring harness, with the cover shown in its initial position.

[0016] Figure 10 This is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the mounting portion of the cover located on the plug assembly and wiring harness, with the cover shown in a fully fixed position. Detailed Implementation

[0017] refer to Figure 1 and Figure 4-7 The floating electrical connector plug assembly 10 is shown mounted to a fixed member, such as a wire harness tray 12 fixed to a housing 14. A portion of the plug assembly 10 extends through an opening 16 provided in a cover 18 mounted to the housing 14. Figure 4 and Figure 6 ).

[0018] Housing 14 may be a structural component of a device (not shown). For example, housing 14 may be a frame, block, frame, housing, and / or the like. The device may be or include an electric motor, engine, transmission, computer, sensor, and / or the like. In embodiments, the device may be an automotive device. For example, the device may be a transmission, and housing 14 may be a transmission housing.

[0019] In one or more embodiments, the connector assembly 10 may be a through connector extending through the opening 16 in the cover 18. Optionally, the cover 18 may be part of a panel or the like. In the illustrated embodiment, the cover 18 surrounds at least a portion of the housing 14 of the device. The cover 18 may protect the device from debris, liquids, and other contaminants outside the cover 18. The cover 18 may also serve as a barrier to maintain internal conditions (e.g., temperature, pressure, gas) within the cover 18, which may differ from the surrounding external conditions. The cover 18 may be mounted or coupled separately from the connector assembly 10 to the housing 14, wherein the connector assembly 10 is aligned with and / or extends through the opening 16.

[0020] Although connector assembly 10 is a through-plug connector in the illustrated embodiment, it should be understood that... Figure 1 This is merely an example application of connector assembly 10, and connector assembly 10 is not limited to a through-hole connector. In other applications, connector assembly 10 may be a plug connector that does not pass through a panel, a through-hole connector that is not mounted to a plug, or may not be a plug connector or a through-hole connector. Connector assembly 10 may be referred to herein as floating connector assembly 10.

[0021] Figure 2 This is a perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of a floating connector assembly 10. The connector assembly 10 includes a plug housing 20. The housing 20 includes a mating end 22 and a mounting end 24. The mating end 22 is configured to mate with a mating connector (not shown). For example, the mating end 22 defines a receptacle in which the mating connector is received.

[0022] like Figure 4 and Figure 6As shown, the mating end 22 of the housing 20 extends through the opening 16 of the cover 18. The opening 16 may be configured to have an area slightly larger than the cross-sectional area of ​​the mating end 22 of the housing 20 to allow the mating end 22 to extend through the opening 16. In an illustrative embodiment, the connector assembly 10 includes a compression seal 26 disposed around the periphery of the housing 20 between the mating end 22 and the mounting end 24. The compression seal 26 is configured to be received between the housing 20 and the opening 16 to seal the housing 20 to the cover 18. For example, the compression seal 26 may fill a gap between the housing 20 and the cover 18, the existence of which is due to the opening 16 being slightly larger than the cross-section of the housing 20. Alternatively, the housing 20 may include a raised shoulder 28 thereon on which the compression seal 26 is received.

[0023] The mounting end 24 of the housing 20 has an electrical connector assembly flange 30, which is configured to abut the mounting surface or fixing member flange 32 of the wiring harness tray 12, on which the connector assembly 10 is mounted. Figure 1 As shown, the mounting opening 34 is provided in the flange 30. Figure 5 As shown, opening 29 is provided in compression seal 26 and is located near and aligned with mounting opening 34.

[0024] The mounting protrusion 36 extends from the mounting opening 34 in a direction away from the mating end 22. In the illustrative embodiment shown, the mounting protrusion 36 is integral with the flange 30. However, in other embodiments, the mounting protrusion 36 may be a separate piece attached to the flange 30. Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, the mounting protrusion 36 is a cylindrical component with a hardware receiving opening 42. A bottom wall or end wall 44 is located at the end of the mounting protrusion 36.

[0025] like Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, a pawl 46 is disposed on the outward-facing wall 50 of the mounting protrusion 36. The pawl 46 may be spaced apart around the outer periphery of the outward-facing wall 50 or may extend circumferentially around the outward-facing wall 50. A first recess 48 and a second recess 49 are disposed on the outward-facing wall 50 of the mounting protrusion 36. There may be more than one first recess 48, which may be spaced apart around the outer periphery of the outward-facing wall 50 or may extend circumferentially around the outward-facing wall 50. There may be more than one second recess 49, which may be spaced apart around the outer periphery of the outward-facing wall 50 or may extend circumferentially around the outward-facing wall 50. The second recess 49 is located near the bottom wall 44 of the mounting protrusion 36. The first pawl 46 is spaced apart from the first recess 48 and positioned closer to the first recess 48 and the second recess 49.

[0026] The housing 20 may be formed of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic, rubber-like polymer, and / or similar materials. Optionally, the housing 20 may be molded into a single integral part. The housing 20 includes a plurality of contacts (not shown). The contacts may be formed of a conductive material such as copper or another metal. The contacts may terminate to wires in a wiring harness or directly to a circuit board within the device.

[0027] The compression seal 26 can be formed of a compression material such as rubber, rubber-like polymer, etc., so that the seal 26 can be compressed within the housing 20 and the cover 18 (e.g., Figure 6 and Figure 7 (as shown). In the illustrative embodiment, the seal 26 is a strip, such as, but not limited to, a gasket, that extends continuously around the periphery of the housing 20.

[0028] like Figure 3 As shown, the flange 32 of the wire harness tray 12 is an opening or aperture 64 extending through the flange 32. Each of the openings 64 has an inner surface 66 having at least one deflectable finger 68 extending at least partially from the inner surface 66 into the opening 64. For example, the deflectable finger 68 extends into the opening 64 such that the deflectable finger 68 reduces the diameter of the opening 64 relative to the diameter of the opening 64 defined by the inner surface 66. The deflectable finger 68 is biased to extend into the opening 64, whereby the deflectable finger 68 can be radially deflected outward by a contact force, but once the contact force is removed, the deflectable finger 68 deflects back toward its unstressed position and extends into the opening 64. In the illustrative embodiment, a space 69 is defined between adjacent deflectable fingers 68 of the opening 64. Optionally, the opening 64 includes a plurality of deflectable fingers 68 uniformly spaced around the periphery of the inner surface 66. Each deflectable finger 68 can be deflected independently. In an alternative embodiment, each opening 64 may have only a single deflectable finger 68 extending around the periphery of the inner surface 66.

[0029] like Figure 5 and Figure 7 As shown, each deflectable finger 68 has a base 70 that protrudes from the inner surface 66. Each deflectable finger 68 has a distal end 72 at the end opposite to the base 70 and extends at least partially into the opening 64 such that the distal end 72 is closer to the center of the opening 64 (e.g., axis) than the base 70. In addition to extending toward the center of the opening 64, the deflectable fingers 68 also extend at least partially in a direction parallel to the loading direction of the mounting protrusion 36.

[0030] When the connector assembly 10 is mounted onto the harness tray 12, the mounting protrusion 36 is inserted into the opening 64. When this occurs, the mounting protrusion 36 engages the deflectable finger 68, causing the deflectable finger 68 to elastically deflect outwards. The connector assembly 10 and mounting protrusion 36 are continued to be inserted until the edge 32 of the harness tray 12 engages with the flange 30 of the electrical connector assembly 10. When this occurs, the first pawl 46 of the outward-facing wall 50 of the mounting protrusion 36 moves to align with the deflectable finger 68 of the harness tray 12. This allows the deflectable finger 68 to deflect radially inwards and elastically return toward its stressed position, such that the distal end 72 of the deflectable finger 68 is located in the first pawl 46, as... Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown. In this position, the electrical connector assembly 10 is held in the first or preparatory stage position.

[0031] In an exemplary embodiment, the diameter of the inner surface 66 of the opening 64 of the flange 32 is larger than the diameter of the outward-facing wall 50 of the mounting protrusion 36. As a result, an axially extending gap 74 is formed or defined between the inner surface 66 and the outward-facing wall 50. The gap 74 has a length extending in an axial direction substantially parallel to the axis of the mounting protrusion 36. The gap 74 has a width W extending in a radial direction. Figure 7 In the illustrative embodiment, the width W of the gap 74 is approximately equal on all sides of the mounting protrusion 36 because the mounting protrusion 36 and the opening 64 are approximately concentric along the axis of the mounting protrusion 36.

[0032] The mounting protrusion 36 can float radially within the gap 74 relative to the opening 64, thereby allowing the connector assembly 10 to float radially relative to the harness tray 12 coupled to the device or structure.

[0033] When the mounting protrusion 36 and the opening 64 are aligned along the same axis, the connector assembly 10 is allowed to float radially relative to the harness tray 12 by a distance not exceeding width W in any radial direction. The electrical assembly 10 is configured such that the mounting protrusion 36 is held within the opening 64 regardless of the radial position of the mounting protrusion 36 relative to the opening 64. For example, even when the outward-facing wall 50 of the mounting protrusion 36 contacts the inner surface 66 of the opening 64 on one side, maximizing the gap 74 on the opposite side, axial movement of the mounting protrusion 36 out of the opening 64 is prohibited. When this occurs, the deflectable fingers 68 are less compressed on the side where the gap 74 is maximized and more compressed on the opposite side. However, each of the deflectable fingers 68 is configured to cooperate with the first recess 48 to prevent axial movement of the mounting protrusion 36.

[0034] With the connector assembly 10 correctly positioned on the harness tray 12, the cover 18 rests on the housing 14 of the device. One or more fasteners 76 may be used to correctly position and mount the connector assembly 10 to the cover 18. The fasteners 76 are loaded into the hardware receiving opening 42 through a cover mounting opening 78 in the cover 18. In the illustrative embodiment, the fastener 76 is a bolt or screw. Alternatively, the fastener 76 may be another type of fastener.

[0035] Once connected, fastener 76 is secured relative to cover 18. Therefore, connector assembly 10 is able to float radially relative to harness tray 12 along gap 74 (as described above). Thus, because limited movement of connector assembly 10 is allowed relative to the axis of mounting protrusion 36, connector assembly 10 is not secured relative to opening 16 in cover 18, allowing connector assembly 10 to move to align with opening 16. In some known connector systems, if one or more measurements or positions of cover 18, housing 14, or connector assembly 10 are slightly off, connector assembly 10 may not align correctly with opening 16 in cover 18. Even if connector assembly 10 is mounted within opening 16, this misalignment will create an uneven seal between the edge of opening 16 and connector assembly 10. An uneven seal can lead to undesirable leaks, allowing temperature, pressure, contaminants, gases, liquids, debris, and / or the like to pass through the window between the connector and the panel.

[0036] In contrast, connector assembly 10 is capable of floating relative to wire harness tray 12 and cover 18 to align connector assembly 10 with opening 16. When cover 18 is placed on housing 14 of the device, mating end 22 of housing 20 of connector assembly 10 is loaded through opening 16. Furthermore, fastener 76 is inserted into opening 42. Because connector assembly 10 is capable of floating relative to wire harness tray 12 and cover 18, opening 42 can be moved to align with mounting protrusion 36 to ensure accurate alignment of fastener 76 with mounting protrusion 36.

[0037] When fastener 76 is tightened, connector assembly 10 moves toward cover 18, causing connector assembly 10 to move away from wire harness tray 12. When this occurs, mounting protrusion 36 moves away from... Figure 5 The preparatory stage position shown (in which the distal end 72 of the deflectable finger 68 remains in the first recess 48) is moved to... Figure 7The final stage position shown (in which the distal end 72 of the deflectable finger 68 remains in the second recess 49). When this occurs, the deflectable finger 68 moves away from the first recess 48, such that the deflectable finger 68 is elastically deflected outward by the first pawl 46. The distal end 72 of the deflectable finger 68 and the lead-in surface of the first pawl 46 are angled to allow the first pawl 46 to move easily past the deflectable finger 68. The fastener 76 is tightened until the flange 30 of the connector assembly 10 is near the cover 18. When this occurs, the second recess 49 of the outward-facing wall 50 of the mounting protrusion 36 moves to align with the deflectable finger 68 of the harness tray 12. This allows the deflectable finger 68 to deflect radially inward and elastically return toward its stressed position, such that the distal end 72 of the deflectable finger 68 is located in the second recess 49. Figures 1 to 7 In the illustrated embodiment, the second recess 49 extends to the bottom wall 44, allowing the flexible finger 68 to be located in different positions within the second recess 49, thereby allowing the cover 18 to mate with the connector assembly 10 without strict control over part tolerances.

[0038] When the connector assembly 10 is moved to its final stage position, the compression seal 26 engages the inner wall of the cover 18 defining the opening 16. If the opening 16 is not properly aligned with the connector assembly 10, the force from the inner wall of the seal 26 causes the housing 20 of the connector assembly 10 to float in the direction that reduces the unbalanced force. For example, if the housing 20 is too close to the first edge or side of the opening 16, the inner wall at the first edge will exert a greater force on the seal 26 compared to the force exerted by the inner wall at the opposite edge or side of the opening 16 (where the gap is larger). As a result, the housing 20 may move or float toward the opposite edge until the forces from the two edges on the seal 26 are approximately equal and the housing 20 is centered in the opening 16. Thus, because the mounting protrusion 36 is movable in the radial direction, the housing 20 is able to self-center within the opening 16 of the cover 18 when the fastener 76 is moved into the mounting body 36. When the housing 20 is centered, the compressive force on the compression seal 26 can be approximately equal around the periphery of the housing 20, which reduces the possibility of leakage through the opening 16 between the cover 18 and the connector assembly 10.

[0039] Figures 8-10An alternative illustrative embodiment is shown. This embodiment has many of the same components and operates in substantially the same manner as described above. However, the second recess 49 described above is modified to provide a tight fit between the cover 18 and the connector assembly 10. The second recess 49 is positioned adjacent to but spaced apart from the bottom wall 44 of the mounting protrusion 36. There may be more than one second recess 49, which are spaced apart around the outer periphery of the outward-facing wall 50 or may extend circumferentially around the outward-facing wall 50. A second pawl 51 extends from the bottom wall 44 and is located at the end of the second recess 49. The second pawl 51 is disposed on the outward-facing wall 50 of the mounting protrusion 36. The second pawl 51 may be spaced apart around the outer periphery of the outward-facing wall 50 or may extend circumferentially around the outward-facing wall 50.

[0040] In addition, the installation insert 52 (such as Figure 9 and Figure 10 The mounting insert 52 (as shown) is positioned in the opening 42 of the mounting protrusion 36 and aligned with the opening 34 of the flange 30. The mounting insert 52 has a generally cylindrical configuration, and a fastener or mounting hardware receiving opening 54 extends along the longitudinal axis of the mounting insert 52. The inner wall 56 of the mounting hardware receiving opening 54 is threaded to cooperate with mating fasteners or hardware. The outward-facing wall 58 of the mounting insert 52 has a retaining recess 60, which may be spaced around the outer periphery of the outward-facing wall 58 or may extend circumferentially around the outward-facing wall 58. A bottom wall or end wall 62 is located at the end of the mounting insert 52.

[0041] The mounting insert 52 is inserted into the opening 42 of the mounting protrusion 36. When fully inserted, the retaining rib 38 of the mounting protrusion 36 is located in the retaining recess 60 of the mounting insert 52. The cooperation between the retaining rib 38 and the retaining recess 60 provides an interference fit between the mounting insert 52 and the mounting protrusion 36 to hold the mounting insert 52 in the opening 42 of the mounting protrusion 36.

[0042] With the connector assembly 10 correctly positioned on the harness tray 12, the cover 18 rests on the housing 14 of the device. One or more fasteners 76 may be used to correctly position and mount the connector assembly 10 to the cover 18. The fasteners 76 are loaded into the mounting hardware receiving opening 54 of the mounting insert 52 through the cover mounting opening 78 in the cover 18. In the illustrative embodiment, the fastener 76 is a bolt or screw. Alternatively, the fastener 76 may be another type of fastener.

[0043] Once connected, fastener 76 is secured relative to cover 18. Therefore, connector assembly 10 is able to float radially relative to harness tray 12 along gap 74 (as described above). Thus, because limited movement of connector assembly 10 is allowed relative to the axis of mounting protrusion 36, connector assembly 10 is not secured relative to opening 16 in cover 18, allowing connector assembly 10 to move to align with opening 16. In some known connector systems, if one or more measurements or positions of cover 18, housing 14, or connector assembly 10 are slightly off, connector assembly 10 may not align correctly with opening 16 in cover 18. Even if connector assembly 10 is mounted within opening 16, this misalignment will create an uneven seal between the edge of opening 16 and connector assembly 10. An uneven seal can lead to undesirable leaks, allowing temperature, pressure, contaminants, gases, liquids, debris, and / or the like to pass through the window between the connector and the panel.

[0044] In contrast, the connector assembly 10 is able to float relative to the wire harness tray 12 and the cover 18 to align the connector assembly 10 with the opening 16. When the cover 18 is placed on the housing 14 of the device, the mating end 22 of the housing 20 of the connector assembly 10 is loaded through the opening 16. Furthermore, the fastener 76 is inserted into the mounting protrusion 36 through the opening 54 of the mounting insert 52. Therefore, since the mounting protrusion 36 is movable in the radial direction, the housing 20 is able to self-center within the opening 16 of the cover 18 when the fastener 76 is moved into the mounting body 36.

[0045] In this embodiment, when the fastener 76 is tightened, the connector assembly 10 moves toward the cover 18, causing the connector assembly 10 to move away from the wire harness tray 12. When this occurs, the mounting protrusion 36 and the mounting insert 52 located therein move away from the cover 18. Figure 9 The preparatory stage position shown (in which the distal end 72 of the deflectable finger 68 remains in the first recess 48) is moved to... Figure 10 The final stage position shown (in which the distal end 72 of the deflectable finger 68 remains in the second recess 49). When this occurs, the deflectable finger 68 moves from the first pawl 46, causing the deflectable finger 68 to elastically deflect outward.

[0046] Fastener 76 is tightened until the flange 30 of connector assembly 10 is near cover 18. When this occurs, the deflectable finger 68 moves away from the first recess 48, causing the deflectable finger 68 to be elastically deflected outward by the first pawl 46. The distal end 72 of the deflectable finger 68 and the lead-in surface of the first pawl 46 are angled to allow the first pawl 46 to move easily past the deflectable finger 68. Fastener 76 is tightened until the flange 30 of connector assembly 10 is near cover 18. When this occurs, the second recess 49 of the outward-facing wall 50 of mounting protrusion 36 moves to align with the deflectable finger 68 of the harness tray 12. This allows the deflectable finger 68 to deflect radially inward and elastically return toward its stressed position, causing the distal end 72 of the deflectable finger 68 to be located in the second recess 49. Figures 8 to 10 In the illustrated embodiment, less than Figures 1 to 7 The second recess in the illustrated embodiment. As a result, when the flexible finger 68 moves into the second recess 49, the flexible finger 68 is fixed or locked in place, preventing accidental movement of the flexible finger 68 in a direction parallel to the axis of the mounting housing 36. This holds the mounting protrusion 36 in the second or final stage position.

[0047] When the connector assembly 10 moves to its final stage position, the compression seal 26 engages the inner wall of the cover 18 defining the opening 16. If the opening 16 is not properly aligned with the connector assembly 10, the force from the inner wall of the seal 26 causes the housing 20 of the connector assembly 10 to float in the direction that reduces the unbalanced force. For example, if the housing 20 is too close to the first edge or side of the opening 16, the inner wall at the first edge will exert a greater force on the seal 26 compared to the force exerted by the inner wall at the opposite edge or side of the opening 16 (where the gap is larger). As a result, the housing 20 may float toward the opposite edge until the forces from the two edges on the seal 26 are approximately equal and the housing 20 is centered in the opening 16. Thus, the housing 20 is able to center itself within the opening 16 of the cover 18. When the housing 20 is centered, the compressive force on the compression seal 26 can be approximately equal around the periphery of the housing 20, which reduces the likelihood of leakage through the opening 16 between the cover 18 and the connector assembly 10.

Claims

1. A component for holding a wire harness in a tray, comprising: An electrical connector (10) having a housing (20) having a mounting opening (34) and a mounting protrusion (36) having at least one pawl (46, 51) on its outward-facing wall (50). A fixing member (12) having a fixing member opening (64) having an inner surface (66) with at least one deflectable member (68) extending from the inner surface (66) into the fixing member opening (64); A gap (74) is provided between the inner surface (66) of the opening (64) of the fixing member and the outward-facing wall (50) of the mounting protrusion (36), wherein the mounting protrusion (36) is capable of floating radially within the gap (74); The at least one deflectable member (68) cooperates with the first pawl (46) of at least one pawl (46, 51) to hold the electrical connector in the pre-position position.

2. The component of claim 1, wherein the housing (20) has a mating end (22) and a mounting end (24) facing opposite directions, the mounting end (24) having an electrical connector assembly flange (30) extending therefrom.

3. The component of claim 2, wherein the mounting opening (34) is provided on the electrical connector flange (30), and the mounting protrusion (36) extends from the electrical connector flange (30) in a direction away from the mating end (22).

4. The component of claim 3, wherein the mounting protrusion (36) has a second pawl (51) spaced apart from the first pawl (46), and the at least one deflectable member (68) cooperates with the second pawl (51) when the mounting protrusion moves to hold the electrical connector (10) in a final stage position.

5. The component of claim 4, wherein the second pawl (51) is located near the bottom wall (44) of the mounting protrusion (36), and the first pawl (46) is spaced apart from the second pawl (51) and positioned closer to the electrical connector flange (30) than the second pawl (51).

6. The component of claim 5, wherein, The first pawl (46) and the second pawl (51) extend circumferentially around the outward-facing wall (50).

7. The component of claim 3, wherein the mounting protrusion (36) has a recess (48) spaced apart from the first pawl (46), and the at least one deflectable member (68) cooperates with the recess (48) when the electrical connector (10) is in the final stage position.

8. The component of claim 7, wherein the recess (48) is located near the bottom wall (44) of the mounting protrusion (36), and the first pawl (46) is spaced apart from the recess (48) and positioned closer to the electrical connector flange (30) than the recess (48).

9. The component of claim 8, wherein, The first pawl (46) and the recess (48) extend circumferentially around the outward-facing wall (50).

10. The component of claim 1, wherein the mounting protrusion (36) is integrally formed with the electrical connector flange (30).

11. The component of claim 1, wherein the mounting protrusion (36) is a cylindrical member having a retaining rib (38) extending circumferentially around the inner wall of the insert receiving opening.

12. The component of claim 11, wherein the mounting insert (52) is located in the insert receiving opening of the electrical connector flange (30), the mounting insert (52) having a generally cylindrical configuration having a fastener receiving opening (54) extending along the longitudinal axis of the mounting insert (52).

13. The component of claim 12, wherein the outward-facing wall (50) of the mounting insert (52) has a retaining recess (60) extending circumferentially around the outward-facing wall (50) of the mounting insert (52), wherein the retaining recess (60) cooperates with a retaining rib (38) of the mounting protrusion (36) to retain the mounting insert (52) in the mounting protrusion (36).

14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the at least one deflectable member (68) has a base (70) and a distal end (72) protruding from the inner surface (66) of the fixing member opening (64), the distal end (72) being positioned closer to the center of the insert receiving opening than the base (70).

15. The assembly of claim 14, wherein the retaining member (12) is attached to a device housing (14) having a cover (18) having an opening (16) for receiving a mating end (22) of the electrical connector (10) therein, the cover (18) having a cover mounting opening (78) configured to receive a fastener (76) therethrough, the fastener (76) cooperating with a fastener receiving opening (54) of the mounting insert (52), wherein as the fastener (76) is tightened, the mounting insert (52) and the mounting protrusion (36) move from the pre-stage position to the final stage position.

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